Dog Gone Lies (Pacheco & Chino Mysteries Book 1) by Ted Clifton Read Free Book Online Page A

Ana counties a few years ago?”
    “Yeah, I was Sheriff Pacheco. I really learned a lot on that task force.”
    “I’d ask you what’s going on but I have a feeling Deputy Martinez wouldn’t like you talking to me.”
    “No, he wouldn’t. But I don’t give a shit what he likes. I’m running against him for the sheriff’s job. In a month or so I’m either the sheriff—not very likely—or I’m fired, which is way more likely. He can’t fire me now because it’s against county ordinances as long as I’m his opponent. But I’m gone as soon as he’s elected. So I’m more than pleased to talk to you about this matter with Ms. Jackson.”
    “You sound a little defeatist about the election—is Martinez that popular?”
    “Not with anyone who works with him—he’s one-hundred percent asshole, maybe even a little more. Has been since he became a deputy. Sheriff Hermes ignored all of the complaints about Martinez because his father’s the mayor. That’s also why I have no hope of being elected sheriff—his father has all of the political pull and influence to convince people to elect his son—and those people don’t want to make an enemy of the mayor.”
    “Should go after people vote. Let assholes vote for asshole.” This was Tyee in his most Indian-wisdom-conquers-all manner.
    “Deputy, this is my friend Tyee Chino.” There was a slight smile when Ray described Tyee as his friend.
    The Deputy nodded towards Tyee. “What do you mean people vote?”
    “Lots of people live around the lake and not in T or C who are eligible to vote for county sheriff and don’t care about small town politics—my guess is that they outnumber townspeople about three to one—if me, I would seek that vote.”
    The deputy was obviously open to suggestions. They stood around and talked some more about the election. Ray was wondering how he could help this young deputy defeat Martinez.
    “Deputy, would you be available to meet this evening at Big Jack’s to talk about strategy for your election?”
    “My god, sheriff, does that mean you’d help me?”
    “That’s exactly what it means.”
    They agreed to meet at eight at Big Jack’s. Now Ray just had to tell Big Jack about the meeting—the one that would be at
his
place.
    “Deputy, you mentioned earlier that the Jackson woman had been threatened—what was that about?” Ray asked.
    Clayton told Ray everything he knew, including the contents of the threatening note. He said the woman hadn’t seemed all that worried and had assumed it was some kind of mistake. Clayton’s impression was the exact opposite: he thought the note and the tire slashing were definitely directed at Ms. Jackson. The deputy also thought that whoever left the note and slashed her tires was behind her disappearance, but he said that Martinez had basically instructed everyone to just drop it unless something new happened.
    Clayton told Ray that Jackson’s car was still at the Firestone store and that her belongings had been left in her room at the Inn. No one at the Inn had seen anything suspicious Friday or Saturday. She was supposed to get her car that morning and the Inn staff was going to drive her to the Firestone store. Around nine they had called her room and there was no answer. They waited until about 9:30 to try again—then got worried when she didn’t answer. They opened her room and discovered she was gone.
    The Inn called the sheriff’s office and Clayton had gone there to investigate. He’d found nothing—no evidence of a forced entry or a struggle—she was just gone.
    “Thanks, Deputy. Sounds like there are a lot of loose ends on this case. Guess your sheriff isn’t going to do much of anything except blame other people for screwing up. If you can do it without getting in trouble, keep me informed.”
    Ray and Tyee headed back to the car.
    “Do you think we can help Clayton become sheriff?” Ray asked Tyee.
    “I do, Ray. Obviously you have all of the experience of